Senators Propose Ban on Sports Betting in CFTC Markets
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- Senators Adam Schiff and John Curtis introduced bipartisan legislation to ban sports betting on CFTC‑regulated prediction markets, targeting platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
- The bill seeks to prevent CFTC‑regulated entities from offering any sports wagers, as reported by multiple outlets including the WSJ and NBC News.
- Prediction markets are framed by some coverage as a heightened political risk, with Benzinga calling them “more dangerous than social media.”
- DraftKings shares rose after news of the potential ban, according to Barron’s coverage.
- Gambling lobby critics argue the legislation protects monopolies and could push betting offshore, as highlighted in a tweet by Tarek Mansour.
- The bipartisan nature of the effort is emphasized across outlets, with both Democratic and Republican senators co‑sponsoring the measure.
Why it matters: The legislation would curb revenue streams for prediction‑market operators and gambling firms, while benefitting traditional sports‑betting platforms and their shareholders; it also signals heightened political scrutiny of fintech betting tools and, as critics note, could push betting offshore, potentially reshaping the market for regulated wagering.
